Non-Invasive Body Contouring
With the ubiquitous presence of social media, now more than ever, there is an interest in looking good. People are keen to explore cosmetic treatments that can help rejuvenate the skin and give them a sculpted body. Body contouring treatments have consequently skyrocketed in popularity. There are essentially two ways to achieve a more defined, toned, and shapely body - surgical methods and non invasive or minimally invasive treatments. In this article, we will discuss some of the most popular body contouring procedures that can give you definition, smoothness, and an appealing body shape without surgery.
What is non-surgical body contouring?
Plastic surgery procedures like tummy tuck, breast lift, and liposuction are commonly performed for skin tightening and getting rid of stubborn fat deposits. However, these are surgical procedures. They carry the risks of surgery and are associated with a relative lengthy recovery time. Now, thanks to new technologies, it is possible to get rid of stubborn pockets of fat in specific areas without surgery. This not only means less risks, but also less downtime and lower costs for an improved body contour .
Noninvasive body contouring uses specific technologies on targeted fat cells. These minimally invasive treatments destroy fat cells, enhance definition, improve smoothness, and shape the body by getting rid of excess fat in problem areas. Keep reading to learn more about the different treatment options. Find out how they can help you achieve a sculpted appearance in even the most stubborn areas.
How does non-surgical body sculpting work?
Nonsurgical body contouring or fat reduction uses four main technologies to reduce fat and address stubborn fatty deposits in different parts of the body. These four non surgical techniques include cryolipolysis (controlled cooling using freezing temperatures to kill fat cells), radio frequency lipolysis (controlled heat and ultrasound energy to destroy fat underneath), laser lipolysis (controlled low level laser therapy directed at fat deposits), and injection lipolysis (injectable substances like deoxycholic acid to get rid of excess fat).
Treatment options for body sculpting without surgery
Here are some more details about the noninvasive treatments use for body contouring. These non surgical techniques can be combined with other cosmetic treatments, for example, treatments for cellulite reduction.
Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting®)
This is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved noninvasive technology. It utilizes extreme cold temperatures to destroy fat cells. The surrounding tissues (muscles, nerves, and skin) remain intact because they freeze at lower temperatures compared to fat. CoolSculpting (the brand name treatment for cryolipolysis) can be performed on the upper arms, back, abdomen, hips, inner and outer thighs, and buttocks, as well as the chin.
Treatment
The treatments are painless for the most part. They take 30-60 minutes to perform and are done in the office. Most patients require 1-2 treatments.
Side Effects
Common side effects include mild swelling, redness, and numbness. Serious complications are extremely rare.
Results
Cryolipolysis results are visible in 4 weeks. Final results are achieved in 2-3 months. The results are long-lasting as long as you don't gain significant amounts of weight.
Laser Treatment (SculpSure®)
Low level laser therapy works by destroying excess fat underneath the skin with laser energy (controlled heat energy). The subcutaneous fat cells break down due to the heat. The dead cells are removed by the body's lymphatic system . A cooling mechanism ensures that the surrounding skin in the treatment area is not damaged. Laser energy (brand name SculpSure) is U.S. FDA approved to eliminate fat in the belly and flanks.
Treatment
The treatments are painless. Many patients describe it like a warm sensation. It takes around 30 minutes to perform and is done in the office.
Side Effects
Side effects include mild discomfort, swelling, and redness, which are temporary and improve after the treatment.
Results
The results are visible in around 6 weeks. Final results can be seen in 10-12 weeks. The results are long lasting as long as you don't gain a lot of weight. Laser therapy can also improve skin laxity by stimulating collagen formation.
Injectable Deoxycholic Acid (Kybella®)
A plastic surgeon can inject a substance called deoxycholic acid into targeted areas of the body to break down fat cells. This is a naturally occurring substance that is present in the body to digest fat. The brand name for this treatment is Kybella. At present, Kybella is only U.S. FDA approved to treat a double chin.
Treatment
The treatments involve multiple injections with a very thin needle under the chin. It takes around 30 minutes to perform in the office. Your doctor can use a local anesthetic to reduce discomfort.
Side Effects
There is minimal downtime and you can return to normal activities in 1-2 days. Side effects can include mild discomfort, redness, or swelling at the injection sites. These are temporary and resolve quickly after treatment. More serious potential risks such as prolonged numbness or facial weakness are rare.
Results
Patients usually require 2-4 Kybella treatments at a gap of 4 weeks to get the optimal results. The fat cells are permanently destroyed, which makes the results permanent. However, a double chin can develop once more if there is significant weight gain.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
Fat reduction using high intensity focused ultrasound uses pressure from sound waves to break down fat cells in the target area. The brand names for U.S. FDA cleared ultrasound fat reduction treatments include Liposonix (high intensity focused ultrasound) and UltraShape (pulsed ultrasound technology).
Treatment
The treatment can be done on the belly and flanks in less than one hour. The typical patient requires 1-3 sessions spaced around 2-4 weeks apart.
Side Effects
There is no downtime and you can resume all normal activities right away. Side effects are minimal.
Results
Patients will see results in 6-12 weeks. The fat cells do not grow back and results are maintained as long as there is no major weight gain.
Red Light Therapy (UltraSlim)
A relatively new technology that is being used for non-surgical fat reduction involves using red light to decrease fat volume. Providers use a special lamp that generates specific wavelengths of light. The light creates openings in the fat cells, causing them to shrink. The brand name for this U.S. FDA cleared treatment for subcutaneous fat is UltraSlim.
Treatment
The treatment area can be the abdomen, thighs, hips, or other parts of the body. Each session lasts around 30 minutes. There is no downtime after this type of body sculpting. You can return to all normal activities right away.
Side Effects
The therapy is safe and side effects are minimal.
Results
There is visible improvement within a few hours of the noninvasive treatments. However, usually 3 or more sessions are needed for optimal results. The results are maintained as long you lead a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise.
Why are more people opting for non-surgical fat reduction?
Invasive body sculpting and fat reduction procedures like tummy tuck and liposuction are associated with various side effects, the risk of surgical complications, higher costs, and a lengthy downtime. More and more people are choosing minimally invasive treatments because they are less painful and safer ways to get rid of adipose tissue and achieve skin tightening.
However, it is worth noting that the results obtained with these novel methods of body contouring are usually less dramatic than more invasive surgical techniques. Also, the results are typically not immediate. Of all the methods of noninvasive body contouring, fat freezing technology has been around the longest and has the most research backing it. Other noninvasive body contouring techniques that destroy adipose tissue are, however, being increasingly used with good results.
Who is a good candidate for non-surgical body contouring treatment?
Anyone who is at or near their ideal body weight and wants reshaping or contouring without surgery is a good candidate for these non surgical procedures. The goal should be to improve a specific area. The procedures are a good option to reduce isolated deposits of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise.
Is the removal of fat cells permanent?
The fat cells are destroyed forever and do not grow back. It is important, however, to have realistic expectations about what these non surgical treatments can and cannot achieve. In general, the results from a non surgical treatment are less dramatic compared to surgical or invasive body contouring.
How long does non-surgical body contouring last?
As long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle and stable body weight, your results from non surgical body contouring should last.
Does body contouring really work?
Nonsurgical body contouring can be very effective and has several advantages. There is little to no downtime. There is no general anesthesia, no incisions or cuts, and no scars. The side effects are minimal in most patients. The results are visible gradually, allowing patients to be discreet about the treatments. Last but not least, the results are maintained as long as a patient stays at a stable weight.
There are some downsides to nonsurgical body contouring, however. The results are not as dramatic as liposuction or some other invasive body contouring procedure. Multiple sessions are needed to achieve the desired results. These treatments may, therefore, not be the best choice for patients who want to destroy fat cells in larger areas or those who want to get rid of significant amounts of adipose tissue.
Keep in mind that both surgical and nonsurgical body contouring cosmetic procedures are not intended for weight loss. These treatments will not significantly reduce your weight. You will need to follow a healthy lifestyle to maintain your results.
Nonsurgical Body Contouring vs Liposuction
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists anesthesia risks, infection, bleeding, fluid or blood accumulation, and other possible complications associated with liposuction. In contrast, nonsurgical body contouring treatments are safer because they don't involve surgery, incisions, or anesthesia. These procedures also cost less than surgical liposuction which averages around $3,000 per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Is non-surgical body sculpting safe?
As noted, noninvasive body contouring treatments for fat reduction are generally safe and have minimal side effects. Serious complications are very rare.
What can you expect after these treatments?
Recovery is quick after fat reduction with noninvasive body contouring. You can expect to go back to all normal activities within 1-2 days or sooner. You will however need to maintain a stable weight with a healthy diet and regular exercise to maintain results.
Finding a provider for non-surgical body contouring
Non-surgical fat reduction treatments can be performed by aestheticians, nurses, dermatologists, and cosmetic surgeons.
Non-invasive treatments like SculpSure and CoolSculpting can be safely performed by trained aestheticians working under a physician. However, injectable procedures like Kybella require in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy and should be performed only by a qualified cosmetic surgeon.
The MeTime app makes it easy to find a cosmetic surgeon or aesthetic provider for non surgical treatments for fat reduction. You can chat with experts, send photos, do a video consult, and get quotes. Download the MeTime app today and find out which non surgical treatment for body contouring is right for you.
